So, I may love my own clothes, but I can't say I'm much of a fashionista. I know what I like, and I often do not discern the nuances of the runway that so many other folks seem able to do.
However, this past week was the Islamabad Fashion Week, and when I saw a post on it I really wanted to share it with you. The principal reason for this is that we are often so bombarded by Western fashion meccas and their fashion weeks, that we don't realize just how many amazing fashion designers there are out there. We also take for granted that all fashion is for skinny (read: gaunt) models who don't like to wear much in terms of fabric. Working with traditional fashion concepts within Pakistani culture as well as modern fashion concepts, the designers for this fashion week reminded me of just how much more there is out there to play with. And how modest things can be while still being provocative. And how many shirtless male models there are world-wide.
Enjoy the shots below, but certainly check out the website for Islamabad Fashion Week. Pakistan Music Mind also seems to have an extensive level of coverage as well. :)
I know that Halloween is well over by now, but I did promise you a review of my dressing up and related adventures.
I had a wedding to attend in Philly the weekend before Halloween, and if you remember, I had been very excited to get dressed up for the reception. If you couldn't deduce this from my recent posts about fascinators and flappers, I decided to go with a 20's inspired outfit.
I found this dress at an Antiques Mall in Baltimore, and though it's obviously not drop waist, it's slinkiness and bugle beads really reminded me of the 20s. It's crochet, so it makes for a slightly sloppy presentation, what with my slip slipping out everywhere. But I think it looks slick just the same.
I got pretty into it, looking up tutorials on 20s makeup and hairstyles. I ended up referring to this post for makeup. Not being a makeup kinda girl, I had to stock up on red lip liner and something to make my eyes all smokey. I hate mascara, so I went with buying myself some fake lashes. Did you know how much of a pain they are to put on when you're as clueless as I am?!?!? I had to get Buddy to put those things on my lids for them to actually stay. The jury is now out as to which I dislike more: fake lashes or mascara.
I used this video for the hairstyling, because I've been growing out my bob for a while (I had started to miss braids).
It was relatively easy, though time consuming. My day was work, getting made up, and then driving. Oh yeah, and the wedding reception. Did I mention I got to do the driving on the day that the East Coast got that freaky October snow? Granted, it wasn't as bad as it could have been, but the winds were a bit stressful.
Here's my hair-play results:
The fascinator I had bought from Design by Night was a nice mix of big and bold with the slinkiness of the feathers. And I was less likely to damage it with my fumbly self. Those peacock feathers do not look nearly so good as the day I bought the piece. Poor things.
I'm including this second shot of the fascinator, to give you another view. I took it the day after, so you get to see my lovely bedhead too.
I wish I could explain how crazed I felt for the rest of the weekend and manage to do it justice. It was a mix of great fun hanging out with great folks I barely see, while being physically exhausted and not feeling so hot, not packing properly, and then dealing with my car breaking down on Monday morning as I tried to drive home. I had to take a bus back to Baltimore and wait for word on the car. I was fortunate in that the car was easily fixed and didn't cost too much. I was able to head back up on Wednesday, hang out with more quality folks, and come back in my much happier little car a much happier little Seeks.
So I didn't get to dress up for Halloween proper. But I'm sure I'll post on the outfit I had in mind in the near future. Dress up is so worth sharing.
In the meantime, you can see (if you look closely) a very specially numbered SEPTA train below, that I saw as I learned to use the SEPTA system to pick up my car. I suppose it was a good thing I wasn't on that train. My luck was crazy enough as it was, I wouldn't have wanted to involve occult numerology.
I have been contemplating my Halloween costume only as though it were a whiff of candy corn on an autumn breeze on a blustery day. Briefly, half-mindedly, and without much hope of coming to a productive conclusion.
But I have been contemplating getting dressed up for some friends' wedding reception Halloween weekend like I think about food: frequently, ardently, and excitedly. Almost obsessed. Because food is damn good. And so is dressing up for a worthwhile occasion.
There are plans in the works, but in the process I got to return to something I have found myself intrigued by over the past couple years: fascinators. Not the boxy odd ones at the royal wedding, but the feathery, whimsical, romantic ones that remind me of the Roaring Twenties, exotic Frazetta princesses (though I don't think any of them would wear even that much), and First Peoples.
Here are some of my favorites from my trawling of Etsy:
Ummmm, I could totally just post her whole site on here and still feel like I should show you more. But I realize that some of that is just my own obsession. Her work is neat, detailed, and tastefully constructed. The felt backings are heart shaped, the feathers hand curled. I'm pretty sure she makes her flowers by hand too, but I didn't ask. She evens knows to get headbands that don't hurt. I always get headaches with headbands, but hers are quite comfortable!
I was able to meet up with Kolleen, the artist of Design by Night, tonight and peruse her wares. First, I'd like to let you ladies know that the Etsy shop doesn't even begin to cover the work she does. Second, it's all good. And third, I've gotten my fascinator for my reception outfit. I won't ruin the surprise, as part of the fun of dress up is the reveal. But I expect pictures to be forthcoming. :)
In the meantime, you should check out Kolleen's blog with her upcoming shows, tutorials, and products! Ugh. I am so going to be spending way too much money.
And no, Kolleen doesn't know I'm writing this. I'm just giddy. Thanks, Kolleen!(I'll probably be calling you soon for another fascinator when I get paid again. Obsessed, I'm telling you!)
Last Friday, DC Goodwill held a "Traveling Trunk Show" and vintage auction at Gossip on 23rd in Arlington, VA. This event was to tie up Vintage Fashion Week in DC, and was an excuse for me to start sending out feelers in the DC fashion community. I love people, but I'm not the most social of persons, so I didn't exactly come away with a bunch of new friends. It's a start though. Maybe next time, I'll actually talk to someone.
So, I went to the auction, and they had some seriously cute dresses up for bid. DC's fashion bloggers Spicy Candy DC did the photo shoots, so I thought I'd show off their good work and better pictures of the pieces. I would say that I liked almost all of them, but here are some of my immediate favorites:
Polka dots!
Simple cut, with a fun print
I really love the details on this 1930's dress. I was so sad that it didn't fit me well.
I love the fabric for this 1940s dress. The cut is really cute too, but wouldn't have fit me well.
This one ended up being my favorite.
An excellent example of a 1930s party dress.
Lace insets on the flutter sleeves.
This dress's design is a little hard to see because of the color and fabric, but it reminded me of this pattern, only with flutter sleeves:
The main dilemma that I found myself having at this event was that the dresses just didn't fit me. Most of the clothes didn't. I know that vintage fitting is not the same as it is now, what with the different shaping undergarments worn in different decades. But in order for me to spend the money on a quality vintage piece, as they often run in the $40s-50s in forums like etsy (or at auctions meant to raise money), I want the fit to be as close to right as possible.
I can accept that I may have to settle for Jr sizes or a snug waist, but in order for me to do most of the auction pieces any justice, I really needed some curves. And maybe some heighth-these were some loooong skirts for a short girl. I eventually found myself looking at the busts' cut on the dresses before I would decide if I could try it on or bid. Though some details are lovely, say like the cut of the flowery 1930s dress, if you can't fill in the top, it really just looks frumpy. Trust me on this.
One of the things I love about thrifting is the find of a dress just your size or a piece of clothing you can rip up and make into something that is just your size. The quality of the pieces on auction and their age really made me hesitant to bid, because I just can't see myself altering them. Do you alter vintage clothing older than the 70s or 80s?
I've never seen this ribbon trip before, and I'm not quite sure I understand it, but I'm interested in figuring it out.
There were other vintage clothes for sale as well, though again, the fit on some were just not quite right. So, I just took pictures of the details that I liked about them. Daydreaming of executing them in future sewing projects.
An Anne Sui romper. I liked the print and cut.
I'm not sure of it's age, but I love this top's collar
So, at the end of the evening, I ended up buying a super cute brown cloche hat that looks very much like this:
It fits, and I can wear it more often than an evening dress. The only part that bums me out is that the hat wasn't Goodwill fare, but rather from the boutique. I've been wearing it a bunch since Friday though.
So, tell me. When do you alter vintage and by how much before it feels like butchery?
Sorry for the lack of posts. As I transition to part time, things have gotten progressively busier at work. Next week I finally cut down my hours by a day. Yay! In the meantime, I'm just not all together, making posts I don't remember making last night, only to realize it's not relevant. (It's since been deleted, so don't bother looking for it.)
I'm trying to get some sewing in, with limited success. I may just have to spend the week cutting things out, because I can't seem to get fabric to machine.
In the meantime, I'm drooling over this cute little number that's way too expensive for me:
